Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Nio has released new real-life images of its Firefly electric compact car, showcasing the vehicle in the same fluorescent green color as seen in official promotional materials but featuring a different wheel design.
The Firefly brand and its debut model were first unveiled in Guangzhou last December, with a pre-order price of 148,000 yuan ($20,450). Since then, the brand has been releasing images of the compact EV, with the latest photoshoot revealing a new wheel design.
Battery, Performance, and Range
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) included Firefly’s EV in its latest regulatory catalog last month. According to the catalog, the model’s standard-range variant will use a 42.1 kWh battery pack, providing an estimated range of 420 km (260 miles) under the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC).
Previously, a MIIT filing confirmed that Firefly’s debut model will feature a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery supplied by Chinese battery manufacturer Sunwoda.
The compact EV is powered by a rear-wheel-drive motor from Nio’s motor subsidiary, XPT, delivering a peak power of 105 kW and a top speed of 150 kilometers per hour.
Pricing details for the model, including options for battery-as-a-service and outright battery purchases, remain undisclosed. The first deliveries are scheduled to begin in China in late April.
European Launch
Firefly’s European launch date has yet to be confirmed. However, two camouflaged Firefly vehicles were recently spotted in Sweden, indicating ongoing road testing in the region. While Chinese deliveries are expected to commence in late April, the company is planning a European launch in the second quarter of the year.
Unlike Nio’s main brand, which sells directly to consumers, Firefly will adopt a different approach, selling its vehicles through distribution partners in each country.
Pre-Orders Surpass Expectations
Firefly’s chief, Daniel Jin Ge, stated earlier this year that pre-orders have exceeded the company’s expectations, with the majority being placed on the night of the model’s launch on December 21.
“Regarding orders, while we don’t disclose exact figures, the number of registered users on the app, the [WeChat] mini-program, and orders placed has exceeded expectations. The highest number of orders came on the launch night, accounting for 50% of the total so far,” he said.
In late January, the company teased an interior reveal on Instagram, stating, “Designed to surprise. What’s inside? You’ll find out soon…”
